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Hysterectomy: Types of Surgical Incisions

Topic Overview

Your surgeon will recommend one or more types of
hysterectomy (you may or may not have a choice,
depending on your condition). An abdominal hysterectomy requires a larger
incision. A vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy uses small incisions.

Abdominal hysterectomy. Two types of surgical
incisions are used for an abdominal hysterectomy.

The midline incision is made from just below the
belly button (umbilicus) straight down the abdomen to just above the pubic
hairline.

A transverse incision (bikini line) is made just above
the pubic hairline.

Vaginal hysterectomy. During a vaginal
hysterectomy, the incisions to remove the uterus are made on the inside of the
vagina.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy. To allow insertion
of a small viewing instrument (laparoscope) and surgical instruments,
small incisions are made in the abdomen.

The vaginal and laparoscopic techniques are sometimes
combined.

Laparoscopic surgery that is done using only one incision is called a laparoendoscopic
single-site surgery (LESS) or single-port surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is also done using robotic equipment. This is called robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy.

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